FSA Loans Technical Assistance Contractor

North Carolina  | 
Chatham County

Reports to: Farm Services Director
Location of Position: Remote
Program: Farmer Services

Physical Demands: Prolonged stationary periods at a computer. Visits to farms, which include walking significant distances and being outside in various weather.

Travel Expectations: Travel around the Southeast U.S. (1-3 times a month) is required for farm visits or other meetings and events. Driver’s license required.

Status: Contractor, hourly,  (approx 20 hours a week schedule for six months OR 40 hours a week schedule for six months, July 2026-January 2027, with possibility to extend)

Contract Summary: The FSA Loans Technical Assistance Contractor will conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to farmers in the Southeast U.S., with a particular focus on supporting farmers of color (both beginning and experienced) in accessing FSA loan programs. The FSA Loans TA Contractor will ensure proper case tracking and management, accurate provision of technical support to farmers, and connections to potential resources and programs that support the viability of their farm operations. 

Contractor role will serve the following functions:

Case Management 

  • Provide one-on-one technical assistance to farmers of color located in the Southeast U.S. on a variety of FSA topics such as acquiring a Farm Number, submitting an FSA loan application (microloan, operating, ownership), preparing farm financials to apply for loans, restructuring an existing loan, learning more about their fiscal and borrower responsibilities, etc.  For 40-hour/wk schedule: 50 appointments. For 20-hour/wk schedule: 25 appointments. 
  • Receive and respond to farmer referrals from RAFI staff to assist farmers with FSA loans or access to farm credit. 
  • Consistently record and update farmer cases within data collection tools for efficient retention of farmer information, technical assistance provided, subsequent steps/actions post-technical assistance, and other relevant case information. 
  • Schedule in-person meetings with farmers on a case-by-case basis to provide technical assistance and better understand their farm operations. 
  • Attend weekly meetings with the Farm Services Director to discuss casework status, progress, or challenges
  • Coordinate with the Farm Services Director to report the progress of cases, to adhere to project reporting requirements, and assess the impacts of TA.

Outreach and Education 

  • Collaborate with the National Young Farmers Coalition’s (NYFC) TA team and/or RAFI’s Farm Advocacy team to identify educational topics that are of high farmer interest to host virtual or in-person events about. 
  • Conduct farmer surveys to assess the impact of the technical services provided.

General Responsibilities

  • Support the administrative, evaluative, and reporting requirements of the work area. 
  • Adhere to and respect the organization’s relevant policies and procedures, including submission of reports on a timely basis, attendance at required meetings, etc.

Background

Since 2022, RAFI has collaborated with the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) to increase familiarity with and access to USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan programs for farmers of color in the Southeast U.S. The ultimate goal is to support the launch and growth of farm businesses by increasing access to FSA loans. Having dedicated one-on-one technical assistance support provides farmers with a greater opportunity to successfully secure an FSA loan. 

Contract Work Description

RAFI is seeking a contractor who can contribute to the project’s objectives by providing one-on-one technical assistance with FSA loans and the financial literacy required to successfully apply for a loan. The contractor will also participate in developing educational resources, such as webinars and outreach materials, to be shared with farmer networks in the Southeast U.S., with a focus on those in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.

Duration

This is a limited-duration (approximately six months, with the possibility of extending for three additional months) contracting opportunity for approximately 160 hours (40 hours/week) or 80 hours (20 hours/week) of the contractor’s time per month. The project is to be completed by the end of March 2027.

Location

Remote but may travel to meet with farmers in person.

Salary and Benefits

Compensation for the completion of project deliverables is up to $12,000 per month for six months, totaling up to $72,000 if fulfilling the role at 40 hours per week, or up to $6,000 per month for six months, totaling up to $36,000 if fulfilling the role at 20 hours per week. Compensation is based on an estimate of 960 hours (40 hours/week) or 480 hours (20 hours/week) for the project. Payment will be disbursed in approximately 12 installments upon satisfactory completion of set benchmarks.